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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / AP / BCN) ― San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris entered the race for California's top cop on Wednesday, citing her previous "tough and smart" strategies combating crime during 20 years as a prosecutor. 

Among a contingent of family, friends and flashbulbs, Harris said she was "very excited" as she officially filed her candidacy for attorney general for the 2010 election at San Francisco City Hall.

"It's an office I have a great deal of respect for and plan to do a lot of important work in," she said. "The attorney general's office is a place where we can make a significant headway in terms of further strengthening our criminal justice system in California."

The 44-year-old Harris became San Francisco's first female DA in 2004. Her biracial background makes her the state's first black— and nation's first Indian American—district attorney.

She cited increased conviction rates for violent crimes, expansion of victims services and crime prevention initiatives during her tenure as DA as qualifications for the statewide post.

As attorney general, Harris said she would focus on reducing gang crimes, prison reform and crack down on financial crimes such as predatory sub-prime lending that led to the nation's current economic crisis.

The attorney general spot is currently held by fellow Democrat Jerry Brown, who has said he's considering another run in 2010 for governor, a title he held for eight years. Harris said she assumes Brown isn't seeking a second term as attorney general.

"I believe it's time for us to build on the good work of the (current) attorney general," she said.

Regarding the AG's race, Brown said Wednesday that "it's premature to comment on the 2010 election."

The early filing could give Harris a head start in raising her profile and campaign funds across California. In her four-plus years as district attorney, Harris said she's raised felony conviction rates and put more serious and violent offenders behind bars.

Critics have accused her of being slow prosecuting homicides and using lenient plea agreements to raise her conviction rate. Police have also criticized her for refusing to seek the death penalty for the killer in the 2004 fatal shooting of undercover cop Isaac Espinoza.
 
Her at times controversial stance against the death penalty would remain her own personal conviction, according to Harris, who said Wednesday that she would "enforce the death penalty as the law dictates."

Harris contended that she would "put the rule of law above the rule of politics, and put aside my personal position, and enforce the law."

Harris' bid for the chief law enforcement job presumably takes her out of a potential spot in President-elect Obama's administration. An early Obama ally, Harris stumped across the country for him, prompting speculation she might be tapped for an upper-level position in the new president's U.S. Justice Department.

She also was in Chicago for Obama's victory speech, last week. Earlier this week, Harris downplayed any notions there had been discussions of joining Obama's White House.

"The only conversation we were having on Election Night was 'We did it!"' Harris exclaimed. "Yes we did!"

On Wednesday, Harris reiterated she only wants the top law enforcement spot in the country's most populous state.

"This office is a very important office. I love California. I'm a native Californian and a career prosecutor and my first love is law enforcement," Harris said. "This is what I want to do, no doubt about it."

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